Review of A Bear’s Bride: A Retelling of East of the Sun, West of the Moon by Shari L. Tapscott

After her father threatens to marry her to a dull farmer, free-spirited Sophie runs away from the only home she’s ever known and sets off into the world, seeking adventure and romance. But instead of excitement, she finds a forlorn castle and the solitary prince who lives there.

For twenty years, Henri has been shrouded in mystery and speculation. He’s a legend, a nightmare, a blight upon his fair kingdom. Though Sophie knows it would be wiser to return home, she’s inexplicably drawn to the man of shadows.

But it doesn’t take Sophie long to realize that falling for the cursed prince might prove to be more of an adventure than she ever bargained for…

A Bear’s Bride is a romantic fairy tale novella. It can be read on its own but is more fun when read as a part of the Entwined Tales, a series of interconnected fairy tales by six different authors. Each story follows the adventures of one of seven children from the same family as they seek out their own happily ever afters in spite of their reluctant fairy-godfather.

Review:
Sophie is spirited and she has a path she wants to travel, and when her father threatens to end any chance of adventure, she knows she has to go out on her own. Not cut out for the long winding adventure she believed herself setting out for, she asks for help and finds herself thrown into more of a mystery than she expected. Sophie is tested in many ways throughout the novel, having to grow and shift from a girl who is determined to go her own way, to protecting and holding tight to what she loves. I truly hadn’t wanted this story to end.